About Ecologists Without Borders
Ecologists Without Borders (EcoWB) is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven, service-oriented organization of individuals who possess ecology-related technical knowledge and experience, and who are dedicated to restoring and conserving ecosystems and improving relationships between humans and nature. We connect knowledgeable volunteers with environmentally vulnerable communities worldwide to work together to solve ecological challenges. Our eco-projects are undertaken at the request of and in cooperation with local stakeholders, with deference given to local knowledge, desires, traditions, capabilities, and constraints. We believe that lasting solutions are best achieved through community-based approaches and partnering with local stakeholders.
Our approach is flexible, responsive, and accessible to all who share our mission and values. Through our bottom-up, decentralized approach to project planning and implementation, we offer project creators, civic leaders, and local residents a platform to engage in dialogue, refine ideas, and mobilize technical support from our dynamic network of partners and volunteers.
Environmental problems, no matter how daunting or widespread, can be best resolved by directly engaging with those most affected. By working with local communities, stakeholders, and NGOs in this deeply collaborative way, EcoWB fills an important niche in global conservation efforts.
Our Mission
Promoting healthy ecosystems, the sustainable use of natural resources, and community resilience to ecological change through international collaboration and volunteer service.
Our Vision
A world where ecologically vulnerable communities worldwide are equipped to conserve, manage, and restore ecosystems to ensure environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
Our Impacts
EcoWB builds resilience in environmentally vulnerable communities through collaboration, access to resources, and capacity building.
Transparency and forward-thinking are guiding principles that shape our work. We invite you to explore our Annual Report for a comprehensive look at our recent accomplishments, and our Strategic Vision to understand our ambitious goals for the future.
We rely on the generosity of people like you to make our work possible
If you are inspired by our work and wish to support EcoWB please consider making a donation or signing up to volunteer today.
Our Projects
Every EcoWB eco-project aims to:
Increase community resilience and capacity to respond effectively to economic, social, and environmental shocks, disasters, and cumulative impacts.
Strengthen the scientific and technological capacity of communities to sustainably manage natural resources and implement effective conservation and restoration practices.
Provide a global network and path for environmental professionals to collaborate on eco-projects in their communities and across borders.
Improve community capacity to act on climate change mitigation and adaptation, reducing negative impacts.
Enable community partners to become effective stewards of healthy ecosystems, promote sustainability, and improve the welfare of local residents.
Enhance international cooperation between communities, environmental scientists, and volunteers.
Our Story
This is a story of how a dream became a reality. It all began in 2011 with three visionary co-founders – Larry Dominguez, Eric Knudsen, and Cleve Steward – shared a common vision of harnessing the expertise, creativity, and altruistic impulses of their scientific colleagues to solve environmental problems around the world.
The trio recognized that many communities facing severe environmental impacts lacked the necessary resources and/or technical expertise to tackle these issues effectively. Drawing from their experience as fisheries scientists with a global perspective, they saw an opportunity to make a difference by bridging this knowledge gap.
Realizing that they couldn't do it alone, they envisioned forming a non-profit organization that could facilitate the transfer of ecological expertise to areas of the world most in need. This was not just an idea; it was a call to action – and so EcoWB was born.
In the years since, EcoWB has grown to become a world-class organization, providing a platform for concerned individuals worldwide to contribute their skills and knowledge towards solving ecological challenges across borders. We specialize in connecting community leaders and local environmental advocates with our network of volunteers to vet, design, and implement eco-projects. Our projects are goal oriented, grounded in environmental science and ethics, and focused on outcomes that benefit humans and nature. We understand that “one size fits all” solutions rarely succeed, and that our eco-projects must be built upon the desires, capabilities, resources, and constraints of the communities we aim to assist and empower. Our journey is proof that every great endeavour starts with a dream, but it takes the three “C’s” – Community, Conversation, and Courage – to turn that dream into reality. We welcome you to join us in our mission to create positive change through ecological stewardship and international collaboration.
Co-founders Eric Knudsen, Cleve Steward. and Larry Dominguez
